And the boss of 36 schools across Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset is knighted
Ann Remmers, as a student nurse at Guy’s Hospital in London in the 1970s(Image: Ann Remmers)
A Bristol midwife who dedicated her life to helping women have babies for 50 years has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list.
Ann Remmers started work in the 1970s at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and last year was awarded the Chief Midwifery Officer Gold Award for 50 years of ‘outstanding service and achievements in the NHS ’.
She rose up to become the clinical director at North Bristol NHS Trust and then for the whole of the south west and said she felt that the OBE she received was really also for all the people who she has worked alongside over six decades of maternity care.
“It is such an honour to be recommended for an OBE for the work I have been fortunate to do as a midwife and clinical leader during my career in the NHS,” she said. “I am totally overwhelmed that I have been nominated for this award by my organisation.
“It has been a joy to work in midwifery and perinatal services throughout my career. This award reflects the expertise and commitment of many teams and people that I have had the privilege to work with and alongside and who are devoted to improving care for all mothers and babies across the South West,” she added.
Ann is now working for Health Innovation West of England, and has been the midwifery lead for the PERIPrem programme, improving outcomes for premature babies across the south west.
In her career, she has led numerous maternity and neonatal-focussed improvements, including the first free-standing birth unit in Bristol, setting up the regional maternity dashboard and the South West regional Perinatal Equity Network.
She’s currently the clinical lead for Black Maternity Matters, an anti-racist behaviour change programme for perinatal teams and senior leaders to expose and address racist perceptions and behaviours that impact health outcomes for women racialised as black and brown.
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Her current boss is Natash Swinscoe, the chief executive of Health Innovation West of England. “We are thrilled by the news that Ann has been awarded this fantastic honour in the King’s New Year Honours,” she said.
“Ann works tirelessly to support, coach and uplift her colleagues. Her passion and commitment to improving life for mothers, babies and staff, means she is never afraid to embrace difficult issues head-on, leading professionals through change in an open and collaborative way.
“Ann’s contribution to midwifery after 50 years in the NHS is invaluable. Her continued dedication to improving outcomes for women and babies is a thriving legacy that has changed maternal and neonatal care in our region and beyond,” she added.
Ann Remmers, centre, with husband Martin (left) and son Guy (right). Ann has been awarded an OBE in the 2026 New Years Honours(Image: Ann Remmers)
The deputy regional chief midwife for NHS England South West is Rachael Glasson. “We are delighted that Ann has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to improving maternity and neonatal in care for women, babies and their families,” she said.
“Whilst working in the NHS for over 50 years is a phenomenal achievement, what makes Ann stand out is her continued vitality, enthusiasm, passion, positivity and can-do approach in all that she does. She is highly regarded as a colleague, friend and champion of maternity and neonatal services. We are so grateful for her continued commitment to improving safety, equity and quality in maternity and neonatal services across the South West,” she added.
Meanwhile, the man who is ultimately in charge of 36 schools in Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset has been knighted in the King’s New Year’s Honours. Steve Taylor, from Nailsea, is the chief executive of the Cabot Learning Federation – a multi-academy trust which was founded in Bristol but has expanded to run schools from the Cotswolds to the Mendips.
“Since learning of this award, I have thought about all those colleagues in the Cabot Learning Federation and in the wider sector, whose work and successes have inspired me over the years to strive to do my best for the children we serve,” he said.
Steve Taylor, CEO of Cabot Learning Federation, has received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours list(Image: Cabot Learning Federation)
“Anything I would count as an achievement has come about as the result of working in collaboration with great people I have had the privilege of knowing, in the CLF and beyond. That includes a number of leaders in the Queen Street Group whose work in education has been recognised over the years, and I feel fortunate to have them as colleagues.
“I am extremely grateful for this honour and look forward to sharing the news with colleagues and sharing the experience with my family, whose support I never take for granted,” he added.